Christian Wood (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Kelly Olynyk (24 points, 7 rebounds) had big games on Sunday night in Orlando, leading the Houston Rockets to a 114-110 road victory (box score). Wood and Olynyk combined to make 18-of-32 shots (56.3%) from the field.
Orlando’s frontcourt starters of Chuma Okeke (14 points, 4 rebounds) and Wendell Carter Jr. (11 points, 10 rebounds) weren’t nearly as successful, and that discrepancy made the difference in a tight game. Even with five-time All-Star guard John Wall out for planned maintenance, Wood and Olynyk gave the short-handed Rockets enough to get a win.
With Houston clinging to a 3-point lead in the final minute, Wood created his own shot in an isolation situation and buried it, putting the Rockets up by five with under 40 seconds left. Then, Olynyk buried a pair of free throws in the final 15 seconds as Houston secured the victory.
Sunday’s win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Rockets (15-42) and presents a clear morale boost to Stephen Silas’ squad. With Wall back in the lineup, Houston returns to action Monday in Miami. See below for a compilation of highlights and postgame reaction.
In the last 4:45 Wood was 2-3 (1-2 on 3's) with a big rebound and huge block. Nice to see. Feel good win for the #Rockets. https://t.co/6zhNga9FSH
— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) April 19, 2021
#Rockets beat the Magic 114-110
Kelly Olynyk – 24 PTS / 9-14 FG / 7 REB / 4 AST@KellyOlynyk spoke with our @cayleighgriffin after the WIN pic.twitter.com/W8WmdhvlOL
— AT&T SportsNet SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 19, 2021
Stephen Silas said he asked Christian Wood how he likes playing with Kelly Olynyk. "I love it," Wood said.
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 19, 2021
Silas notes the Rockets won a game tonight playing just 8 guys, only 1 of which is a point guard who played just 32 minutes
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 19, 2021
For just the 3rd time this yr the Rockets rallied to win a game after trailing by 10+. KPJ before fouling out bounced back to score 22. Wood & Olynyk combined for 49p, 17r, 7a. Tate had a terrific all-around game and Armoni Brooks added a career high 16 as the 5 game skid is over
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) April 19, 2021
